- Start of lithium production in Argentina at year-end and regaining full ownership of this world-class strategic asset, essential for the energy transition
- Operational performance of the main mining activities constrained in 2024:
- 3 Mwmt of nickel ore sold at Weda Bay in Indonesia (-9% vs. 2023), due to the authorisations obtained being significantly below the environmental permit and the mining plan previously validated by the Indonesian Authorities
- 5 Mt of manganese ore sold (-7%), factoring in the closure of the high-grade ore market in China in Q3 (-37% vs. Q3 2023)
- Mixed price environment: decline in nickel ore selling prices in Indonesia; significant volatility in manganese ore selling prices, albeit leading to an increase on average for the year
- Neutralization of SLN’s impact on the Group’s financial performance, following financing agreements with the French State
- Adjusted EBITDA (excluding SLN)[i] at €814m, down 11% in 2024 (vs. 2023); positive intrinsic performance (+€135m), supported by productivity and mix improvement actions
- Net Income, Group share (excluding SLN)1 positive at €144m
- Adjusted Free Cash-Flow1 of -€308m owing to continued growth capex; adjusted leverage1 of 1.8x after regaining full ownership of Centenario in Argentina (€663m)
- Implementation of the CSR roadmap – “Act for positive mining” – with a completion rate of 94% for the first year
- Outlook for 2025 set against the background of an unstable market environment, notably that of steel in China. Market consensus to date around $4.5/dmtu in 2025 for manganese ore, down from 2024
- Targets for 2025 focused on the productivity of operations:
- Manganese ore transported: between 7 and 7.2 Mt, with the FOB cash cost[ii] between $2.0 and $2.2/dmtu, an improvement vs. 2024
- Nickel ore sold externally: 29 Mwmt, with a planned decrease in the grade in mined zones and an increase in haulage costs at the mine
- Lithium carbonate produced: between 10 and 13 kt-LCE, with a gradual ramp-up over the year, both in volume and quality
- Continued productivity actions with gains expected to be higher than those of 2024
- Controlled capex plan in 2025: between €400m and €450m[iii], down from 2024
- Maintaining a rigorous capital allocation policy, focusing primarily on deleveraging
- Proposal for a dividend of €1.5 per share in respect of 2024, in line with 2023
[i] Definitions presented in the financial glossary in Appendix 10
[ii] See Financial glossary in Appendix 10. Cash cost calculated excluding non-controllable costs: sea transport, marketing costs, mining taxes and royalties
[iii] Excluding the capex of SLN, financed by the French State